Hair to begin legal action against ICC

Umpire Darrell Hair has confirmed he will begin legal proceedings against the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), alleging racial discrimination.

Hair held a press conference in Nairobi, after standing in the ICC World Cricket League Division One final between Kenya and Scotland.

"I can confirm that I have instructed my lawyers Finers, Stephens, Innocent of 179 Portland Street, London, to issue an application to the London Central Employment Tribunal alleging racial discrimination by the International Cricket Council and the Pakistan Cricket Board," he said.

"Therefore it is inappropriate for me to make further comment given that this matter has yet to be determined by the tribunal."

The ICC, who declined to comment on the initial reports of Hair's intentions, have retained that stance since he spelled his plans out at a press conference. Ashraf, however, made his reaction clear to BBC Radio Four's Today programme.

"I am just simply outraged," he said. "I can't believe it - this is adding insult to injury. Race has nothing to do with this.

"Mr Hair was removed from the elite panel of umpires by the full ICC board - which has many countries, including England and Australia, which are white. I am just flabbergasted. Mr Hair was removed from the ICC panel of umpires because of his bad umpiring and poor judgment. I think this is probably another manifestation of Mr Hair's mental status.

"I dare say it sounds almost as if he's not only just very impetuous or stubborn; if he made a mistake a man should have stood up and said `I made a mistake'.

"For him earlier to have also asked for a half-a-million dollars during the incident and saying `look, give me this money and I will simply walk away', and now 'suing' the ICC and naming the PCB as a party for racial discrimination, smacks to me of another bit of, perhaps, opportunism."